GAMBLER
Kenny Rogers
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On a warm summer's evening
On a train bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler
We were both too tired to sleep

So we took turns on staring
Out the window at the darkness
The boredom overtook us
And he began to speak

He said: "Son, I've made my life
Out of reading people's faces
Knowing what the cards were
By the way they held their eyes

So if you don't mind my sayin'
I can see you're out of aces
For a taste of your whiskey
I'd give you some advice"

So I handed him my bottle
He drank down my last swallow
Then he bummed a cigarette
And asked me for a light

And the night got deadly quit
And his face lost all expression
Said: "If your gonna play the game, boy
You gotta learn to play it right!"

You got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run

You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done

Every gambler knows
That the secret to survive is
Knowing what to throw away
And knowing what to keep

'Cos every hand's a winner
And every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep

And when he finished speakin'
He turned back towards the window
Crushed out the cigarette
Faded off to sleep

And somewhere in the darkness
The gambler he broke even
But in his final words I found
An ace that I could keep

You got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run

You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done